809. [verse 5] 'And a voice came out of the throne saying, Praise our God, O all His servants, and those fearing Him' signifies an influx from the Lord into heaven, and thus the unanimity of the angels that all who are in the truths of faith and goods of love should worship the Lord as the Only God of heaven. By the 'voice' that 'came out of the throne' is signified an influx from the Lord into heaven. Its being from the Lord is because the One sitting upon the throne was the Lord, as has been shown just above (n. 808). Therefore by the 'voice' coming out therefrom is understood influx, for the Lord, because He is above the heavens and appears before the angels as the Sun, does not speak thence to the angels but inflows; and that which inflows is received in heaven and declared. For this reason that voice, although out of the throne', yet was heard by John 'out of heaven', thus from the angels there; and whatever the angels speak 'out of heaven' is from the Lord. By 'praise our God' is signified that they should worship the Lord as the Only God of heaven. That 'to praise God' is to worship Him will be seen below. By 'all His servants' are signified all who are in the truths of faith (n. 3, 380). By 'all fearing Him are signified those who are in the goods of love (n. 527, 628). [2] That 'to praise God' signifies to worship Him, and consequently that the praise of Him is the worship of Him, is established from many passages in the Word, of which only some will be quoted:-
Suddenly there came to be with the angel a crowd of those praising God Luke ii 13, 20.
The whole crowd of disciples began to praise God with a loud voice Luke xix 37.
They were in the temple praising and blessing God Luke xxiv 53.
Cause to be heard, praise, and say, O Jehovah save Thy people Jer. xxxi 7.
Praise Jehovah in the heavens, praise Him in the heights, praise Him O His angels, praise Him O His armies, praise Him O sun and moon, praise Him O all the stars of light, praise Him O heavens of heavens; let them praise the Name of Jehovah, O praise Jehovah from the earth. He has exalted praise from all peoples Ps. cxlviii 1-5, 7, 13, 14.
Out of the mouth of little children and sucklings thou hast perfected praise Matt. xxi 16.
All the people gave praise to God Luke xviii 43;
besides elsewhere, as Isa. xlii 8; lx 18; Joel ii 26; Ps. cxiii 1-3; cxvii 1. The things that are said in this verse do not relate to the things preceding concerning Babylon, but to those following concerning the New Church to be set up by the Lord, of which it treats in the things here following.
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